Kansas Wesleyan Fall Sports release 2008 schedules
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan University has set its 2008 sports schedules for men’s and women’s soccer, cross country and volleyball.

2008 SOCCER SCHEDULES -- click here

Kansas Wesleyan’s 2008 soccer schedule is no walk in the park. Three nationally ranked teams at the end of last season dot both the men’s and women’s schedules. All games in the 2008 season with the exception of the October 8 contests against Bethel will be played at Salina Stadium. The October 8 matches will be played at the Salina Soccer Complex.

Both teams open the season on September 1 at Concordia (Neb.), before two home contests against Baker on September 4 and Missouri Baptist on September 6. Baker received votes in the final NAIA men’s poll last season. Wesleyan then will head to California for a pair of games on September 11 and 13. First up is nationally ranked Point Loma Nazarene. PLNU finished the 2007 season ranked no.11 on the women’s side and no.12 on the men’s. The Coyotes wrap up the west coast trip with a doubleheader with Cal State – San Marcos.

Once back in the Midwest, Wesleyan travels to Lamoni, Iowa, to face nationally ranked Graceland on September 19. The Yellowjackets finished 2007 ranked seventh on the men’s side and no.17 on the women’s side. The Coyotes then take on William Jewell (Mo.) in Liberty the next day. Jewell’s women finished 2007 ranked no.10 in the country.

After a seven day break, the Coyotes host Oklahoma Christian on September 27. Wesleyan will then wrap up its 2008 non-conference schedule on October 1 in Parkville, Mo., against Park University. The Pirate men finished the 2007 season ranked no.16 in the country, and knocked off the Coyotes in last year’s regional final match. The women’s match features a rematch of last year’s regional championship when Wesleyan knocked off the Pirates 3-0 to advance to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history.

The Coyotes then open the KCAC season on October 4 at Sterling. Wesleyan is then home for back-to-back contests against Bethel on October 8 and McPherson on October 11. Other home contests for the Coyotes feature Saint Mary on October 18 and Tabor on October 29. Road conference contests feature a trip to Wichita to play Friends on October 15, a trip to Ottawa on October 22, a short trip to Lindsborg to take on Bethany on October 25 and the season finale match on November 1 at Southwestern.

2008 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE -- click here

Kansas Wesleyan will begin defense of its KCAC Volleyball title under the direction of first year coach Rick Mischka when the 2008 season opens on September 2 at home against Park University. Wesleyan and Park opened the season against each other last year with the Pirates coming away with the win in four games.

After the Park contest, Wesleyan heads to Omaha, Neb., to play in the College of Saint Mary – Cocoa Keys Classic. The Coyotes will take on Mid-America Nazarene and Midland Lutheran on September 5 and wrap up the classic on September 6 with contests against Dakota Wesleyan and Dordt College.

September 10 sees the Coyotes open the conference portion of the schedule at Ottawa University.

Wesleyan then hosts back to back home contests against Saint Mary and Southwestern on September 16 and 18, respectively.

The Coyotes head to Hastings College on September 20 to play in the Hastings Triangular against York and Hastings. Wesleyan then faces McPherson on September 24 before a return trip to Omaha on September 26 and 27 for the Bellevue University Tournament.

Wesleyan then has two home dates in a row, hosting Friends on October 2 and a triangular featuring a conference match against Tabor at 9 a.m. on October 4 and then the Coyotes face York at 1 p.m.

One road contest at Bethany on October 7 precedes two more home contests against conference powerhouse Bethel on October 9 and Ottawa on October 13. The Coyotes then travel to Saint Mary on October 15 before playing in the William Jewell Tournament on October 17 and 18 in Liberty, Missouri.

Wesleyan travels to Southwestern on October 21 before hosting back-to-back matches against McPherson on October 23 and Sterling on October 28. Wesleyan travels to Wichita to take on Friends on October 29 and opens the month of November on the road at Tabor on the first.

Wesleyan wraps up the home portion of the schedule on November 4 against Bethany before concluding the regular season on November 6 at Bethel.

2008 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE -- click here

Jeff Barker will begin his second year leading the KWU cross country programs on September 6 at Baker University for the Maple Leaf Invitational.

Wesleyan will then head to Wichita on September 12 to run in the Friends University Night Invite at Lake Afton.

The Coyotes then enter the challenging part of their schedule as they head to the Missouri Southern Stampede on September 20 and head to Stillwater, Okla., two weeks later for the Oklahoma State Jamboree.

A week later, Wesleyan runs in the Fort Hays State Tiger Invitation in Hays.

After a two week break, the Coyotes will run in the NAIA Mid-States Classic hosted by Southwestern College in Winfield on October 25.

The KCAC Championship is on November 8 and are hosted by Bethany College.

Kenosha, Wisc., is the host for the 2008 NAIA National Championships on November 22.

For complete schedules and more information on the Kansas Wesleyan University Athletic Programs, visit Coyote Athletics on the web at www.kwu.edu/athletics/

-- KWU SI --